Reading Rocks! raises $40,000 for Wilton schools

Published 11:45 am, Monday, May 21, 2012

Wilton first graders dress up as their favorite rock stars during the Reading Rocks! initiative. Contributed photo.

Wilton first graders dress up as their favorite rock stars during the Reading Rocks! initiative. Contributed photo.

Reading Rocks! raises $40,000 for Wilton schools

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WILTON -- Reading Rocks!, a new read-a-thon fundraiser for students in grades K through 5, recently raised more than $40,000 for Wilton schools.

The goal for the fundraiser, which was launched by the Wilton Education Foundation (WEF), was to get the kids reading more, outside of schoolwork, while raising funds for WEF, with all proceeds going back to Wilton Public Schools, according to organizers.

"WEF is very excited about this new program," said Julie Steckel, chairperson of "Reading Rocks! "We had almost 1,200 students participate ... We are very grateful to our event sponsor, Wilton's own Canine Company/Canine Fence, for helping to make this event possible." The program asked that each student choose their own individual reading goal, with parental guidance. They could have chosen a number of books to read, a number of minutes to read, or even be read to by someone else.

"WEF and the school administration designed the program so there was no direct tie between the fundraising and the reading," Steckel said. "There was no 'per book, per minute, per page' motivation for the fundraising. All donations were made purely in celebration of that child's desire to read more, above and beyond any homework requirements, while doing something empowering -- helping their schools. Donations had to be turned in before the students began the actual reading they committed to do."

The program had a few extra elements of fun to entice the children to participate, according to organizers. First grade at Miller-Driscoll and Nod Hill at Cider Mill won a special prize since they had the highest percent participation by a specific date; every student who participated also received a bookmark that was placed outside the classroom; and every student, participating or not, was given the opportunity to dress like a rock star for a day.

The biggest enticement for many children was the chance to win a Kindle Fire tablet computer, according to organizers. The winners -- Kendall Nelson, a first grader at Miller-Driscoll, and Matthew Woods, a fifth grader at Cider Mill -- were drawn randomly from the pool of participants.

"One of the most enjoyable things about being a part of this program was hearing many stories about kids who are not usually avid readers ... excitedly participating, as one child stated," Steckel said. "The reading period ended May 6, but I've also heard many stories of children still doing extra reading. The schools have terrific literacy programs in place already. But, imagining that this program might have helped someone begin a lifelong belief that 'Reading Rocks!,' or even just enjoy it a bit more, is wonderful."

As "Reading Rocks!" was wrapping up, one of the Kindle Fire winners decided to donate the value of the prize back to the schools to be used for assistive technology, according to organizers.